Gil Can Run!A blog on Running and all the crap that runs through my head while doing it

So listen, you all obviously know my house was destroyed in a fire. I am so grateful for all the wonderful and caring people in my life, friends, family who have, without hesitation offered help and support in this difficult time. It’s amazing and humbling and I cannot thank all of you enough.

Without exception, everyone has asked “What can I do to help?” in some form or another. The fact is, while physically things are broken and destroyed (or just reek of smoke); the insurance company is taking care of all that. They will buy us new things. New clothes, new TVs, new computers, new beds, everything will be replaced or repaired. I get to live in a hotel until they find us a house to rent while ours gets rebuilt. It’s all good, it’s all taken care of. As far as emotionally, well it all is what it is. It sucks, but when do things not suck really? But it all got me thinking.

There are millions of people in this world who are not as fortunate as I am. They are sick, they are incapacitated, they are somehow not able to be housed. You may see them every day, you may think whatever you may want to think about them. I just think it’s terrible. So I want everyone who wants to help, to help them. The quick and easy way is, I did some research and found the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Over 90% of their budget is spent on their actual programs to prevent and end homelessness. Less than 10% is spent paying administrative costs and advertising. They took in a little over $3,000,000 last year. They get a Four Star rating from Charity Navigator and an A+ from Charity Watch.
You can find their website here:http://www.endhomelessness.org/ and read up about them from Charity Navigator here:http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=8145

So if you want to, and you are able to, please send them a donation and if you want to donate in someone’s name, you can donate in the memory of Alfred Curci. Grandpa may be gone for a decade, but that was his house, he and his brothers-in-law built it, cared for it and remodeled it. His work kept me from being homeless for all these years.

If you can’t give money or don’t want to, perhaps time is what you have to give. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen or Habitat for Humanity. Find your local soup kitchen at a site like: http://www.foodpantries.org/ orhttps://www.dosomething.org/ and the link to volunteer for habitat is: http://www.habitat.org/getinv/volunteer_programs.aspx

Ok, so you have no money and you have no time, you can still do something. I want all my friends and family, all you completely great people in my life to do one simple thing. When you see a homeless person on the street, don’t judge them. Keep in mind, our system requires poverty. Even if we all were hard-working, well-adjusted, intelligent, nose-to-the-grindstone people, we would still need someone to flip burgers, take orders, work a cash register. The fact is, we don’t all “fit-in” and some of us are very sick, or very disabled in ways that may not be clear or visible. Yes, there will always be people who try to take advantage and “make money” pan-handling. Offer to buy them a meal, whatever, just don’t judge them. Don’t think you know better than them, or you know their story, or you know why they’re there. Because without the faculties you have, you could very easily be right where they are.

I’m lucky, I have insurance, I can hold a job, I can function in polite society. I don’t have to worry about too much beyond that. But there are profoundly troubled people out there, just trying to survive, and they need our help! Let’s take all this great energy, and let’s help them. Because just like I love each and every one of you, I love each and every one of them too. They are all my brothers and sisters, we are all one human family and I want them to be as OK as they can be too. With all our resources, with all our heart and determination, there is no reason for people to live out in the streets. There is no reason for people to live hand to mouth. Unless that is what they are truly happy doing.

So that is what everyone can do, help my brothers and sisters, help your brothers and sisters who are out there without any hope, without any help, without anybody. If you can’t help them, please don’t hurt them, don’t judge them. Smile and wave and let them know they are still people and they still matter. Remember to keep the ‪#‎PMA‬!

Thank you everyone!